Jacob Foster Ongsiaco Awarded East Lynne Theater Scholarship

At East Lynne Theater Company's annual fundraising event in November at Aleathea's Restaurant in Cape May, NJ, Jacob Foster Ongsiaco was named the seventh recipient of the Historic Jackson Street Neighborhood Association Scholarship Fund (HJSNA) in the Name of Bob and Toni Green. This fund was started in the fall of 2006 with a generous $5,000.00 donation from HJSNA, in honor of the Greens, who first owned The Puffin on Jackson Street. Bob Green was at one time President of ELTC's Board, and Toni came up with the idea for ELTC's "Tales of the Victorians," now entering its twenty-fifth year. The Greens currently live in Kentucky.

The $300.00 Scholarship is slated for those who are pursuing a professional career in theater and are either full-time or part-time residents in South Jersey. This Scholarship has been used to help recipients pay for theater-related classes in and out of the regular school or college environment, and to help make a payment on a college loan, if the degree is in theater. The decision by the Board of Trustees to give the award to Jake was based on his many years of involvement in theater, following the ideals of the famous actor/director Konstantin Stanislavsky's creed to "love the art in yourself, and not yourself if the art."

Jake began performing while attending elementary school in Manahawkin, NJ. From seventh through twelfth grade he performed with the Southern Regional Theatre Company, where his roles included George in "The Drowsy Chaperone," and Danny Zuko in "Grease." Also working with other companies, he played Padamadan in "Legally Blonde" for Our Gang Players. Currently, he is a freshman at Rowan University, studying Theater Arts with a concentration in acting and directing.

Although Jake could not be at the fundraiser to receive the Scholarship in person, he wrote a thank you note to the Board of Trustees, portions of which are recorded here:

"I am grateful for your kindness and your involvement in the promotion of the success in the lives of college students.... I am very highly involved with both the department of theater and dance, as well as my academics. At times, it can be very busy being involved with theater and schoolwork, but this encourages me to continue on the road to success.... It was very thoughtful of ELTC to nominate me. I have enjoyed every production I've seen and plan on attending more in the future!"